Culver City,
California
x
Maker: Sarumian, Sergei
1937...
Date Made: n.d.
Country: Soviet Union
Measurements: 93 cm x 63 cm x 3 cm; 36 5/8 in x 24 13/16 in x 1 3/16 in; 90 cm x 60 cm; 35 7/16 in x 23 5/8 in
In 1937, the Soviet Union witnessed a large-scale purge of the Communist Party government officials, Red Army leadership as well as ordinary citizens. They were all swept up in the wave of repression characterized by widespread police surveillance, suspicion of "saboteurs," imprisonments and executions. The most intense purge took place between the years 1937–1938, known as Yezhovshchina, after Nikolai Yezhov (1895-1940), the head of the Soviet secret police or NKVD. By the end of 1938, Stalin had exterminated almost all of his associates who had been key players in orchestrating the Russian Revolution of 1917. By the end of the Great Purges, there were practically no living members of the original Politburo left within the Soviet Union. Sarumian used a widely known picture of Stalin as the basis of his artwork. It portrays Stalin in a way that was instantly recognizable because of his pipe. Sarumian’s novel addition was the executioner’s cloak, reminiscent of the Inquisition, a garment that would normally shield the face of the wearer. Here, however, the face is the most exposed part as it is depicted in a lighter tone within a convex rectangular border resembling a television screen. There is a continuity with the use of the red color in the painting from the most muted red of Stalin’s match to the brighter hue on his cloak, and finally to the highly contrasted drop of red that stands out against the black at the top. This color illustrates the blood that was spilled during Stalin’s rule, especially during the period of the Great Purges. The “television screen” in the picture centers on Stalin’s face, publicizing and exposing him for all his crimes.
Accession Number: 2009.053.025
Item Name: Painting
Credit Line: The Ferris Russian Collection, Donated by Tom and Jeri Ferris
Collection/Series: The Ferris Russian Collection, Donated by Tom and Jeri Ferris